How to choose a large print word search book
A practical guide for families buying for older adults or anyone with low vision: what to check in the letters, the font, the grid, the page and the paper, so the puzzles are a pleasure instead of a strain.
“Large print” is not a regulated label on puzzle books. One book may print its grid letters twice as large as another with the same words on the cover. The good news is that the details that matter are easy to check, either in the online preview or by printing a sample page. Here is what to look for.
1. Letter size: look at the grid, not the cover
Print size is measured in points. One point is 1/72 of an inch, and the point size describes the whole height of the type, including room for tall and low letters. Word search grids are almost always capital letters, so the more useful number is the cap height: how tall a capital letter actually stands on the page. In most fonts the cap height is roughly two thirds of the point size.
| Point size | Capital letter height | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 10 pt | about 2.4 mm (0.09 in) | common in newspapers and paperbacks |
| 12 pt | about 2.8 mm (0.11 in) | standard document text |
| 16 pt | about 3.8 mm (0.15 in) | a common starting point for large print |
| 20 pt | about 4.7 mm (0.19 in) | comfortable large print puzzle grid |
| 22 pt | about 5.2 mm (0.20 in) | very large puzzle grid |
Accessibility organizations such as the UK's RNIB and the American Printing House for the Blind generally describe large print as starting at around 16 to 18 point. For a puzzle grid, where you scan letter by letter, bigger is better: grid letters of 18 point or more and a word list of at least 14 to 16 point are a sensible target. If a listing does not state the size, use the “Look Inside” preview and compare a grid letter with ordinary text on the same screen.
2. Font: plain, bold and easy to tell apart
The shape of the letters matters as much as their size. Look for a sans-serif font (no little feet on the letters) printed in bold or semi-bold. Avoid decorative, script, condensed or very thin fonts. A good test is whether easily confused letters look clearly different: I, L and 1; O, Q and 0; B and 8; M and N.
Some typefaces are designed for exactly this job. Atkinson Hyperlegible, released free by the Braille Institute, gives similar letters distinct shapes. APHont from the American Printing House for the Blind was also designed for readers with low vision.
3. Grid size and spacing
A larger grid is not a better grid if it forces the letters to shrink. On a full 8.5 x 11 inch page, a 13 x 13 to 15 x 15 grid leaves room for big letters with generous spacing, while 20 x 20 or larger grids usually mean small, crowded type. Check that there is clear space between letters and between rows, so the eye does not slip to the next line.
4. Page size and binding
Full-size 8.5 x 11 inch books give the most room for large letters and are comfortable on a table or lap tray. Smaller 6 x 9 inch books are lighter and easier to carry, but their grids are usually smaller. Most puzzle books are paperbacks, which do not lie completely flat; a book weight, a clip, or gently bending the spine helps. Spiral-bound books lie flat but are less common.
5. Paper, ink and light
Black letters on white paper give the strongest contrast. Cream paper looks warm and reduces glare for some readers, at the cost of slightly lower contrast. Grey or coloured backgrounds behind the grid reduce contrast and are best avoided. If the solver likes highlighters or felt-tip pens, try them on a back page first, because thin paper can let ink show through. And whatever book you choose, good, even lighting makes a bigger difference than most people expect.
6. One puzzle per page
A layout with one puzzle per page and the word list on the same page avoids flipping back and forth. Check-off boxes beside each word help the solver keep their place, and a clear title and number make it easy to find the matching answer.
7. Difficulty and word directions
Difficulty in a word search comes mostly from the directions words can run. The simplest puzzles hide words only across (left to right) and down. Adding diagonals makes them harder, and allowing backwards words (right to left, bottom to top) makes them harder still. Books labelled “easy” should say which directions are used. A book with mixed levels lets someone start gently and move up when they are ready.
8. Solutions
Make sure solutions are included, that each one is clearly numbered to match its puzzle, and that the answer grids are not printed so small that they are hard to read. Shaded or circled words are easier to check than lists of coordinates.
9. Themes and memory prompts
Familiar themes make a book more inviting: seasons and holidays, kitchens and gardens, old songs and films, the decades someone grew up in. Some books add short facts or memory questions beside each puzzle. These are a simple way to start a conversation when you solve together, and for many people word searches are simply a relaxing, enjoyable pastime.
10. If it is a gift
A gift page or an inscription on the first page makes a puzzle book feel personal. Good companions are a few sharpened pencils, a soft highlighter, a book light or a reading lamp, and, if the person already uses one, a magnifier. If you are unsure about the letter size, print a free sample page first and ask them how it feels.
Quick checklist
- Grid letters 18 point or larger, in a bold, plain font
- Word list at least 14 to 16 point
- Similar letters (I, L, 1 and O, 0) clearly different
- Grid around 13 x 13 to 15 x 15 on a full-size page, with space between letters
- One puzzle per page, word list on the same page
- Black on white or cream, no grey backgrounds behind the grid
- Difficulty and word directions explained
- Clear, numbered solutions included
- Themes the person will enjoy
- A sample page checked before buying
A note about our own books
We publish the Old-Fashioned Word Search series, so we are not neutral, and our books are only one option among many good ones. For transparency, here is how they measure up: 8.5 x 11 inch paperbacks with one puzzle per page; grid letters of 22 point bold (Easy) and 20 point bold (Medium and Challenging) in Atkinson Hyperlegible; word lists in 16 point bold; 13 x 13 and 15 x 15 grids in three levels; full solutions and a gift page. The fun-fact and memory lines under each puzzle are 16 point (14 to 15 point on a few crowded pages). They are paperbacks, not spiral-bound. Whatever you choose, checking a sample first is the best way to find the right fit, and you are welcome to print ours for free.